2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vs Volkswagen Crafter

What's the difference?

There’s one for everyone. It’s a common refrain in the commercial van space, because you can pretty much choose the exact vehicle for your particular needs.

This van - a 2019 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 314CDI MWB RWD - embodies that idea perfectly. It’s a rear-wheel drive, mid-wheelbase, high-roof van, with a few optional extras included. 

Here’s a rundown on what I thought of it, after I’d just driven the cab-chassis RWD model, not to mention one of its closest competitors, the Volkswagen Crafter.

If you believe the slogan, the new Volkswagen Crafter is “more than a white box”. In this van’s case that’s undeniably true, not least of which because this one is definitely blue.

But there’s a bit more to it than a smart tagline and inspired colour choices. The new VW Crafter is a serious contender in the large van segment, where it competes against the Ford Transit, Mercedes Sprinter and Renault Master.

Like those rivals, you can have it as a van, a single-cab-chassis or a dual-cab-chassis model. Our test vehicle was a long-wheelbase (LWB) van, which comes with a high roof layout as standard - you can get a cheaper, more manageable mid-wheelbase (MWB) version if you prefer something a touch more city-friendly.